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all'indomani della presa di Roma, il generale Fred L. Walker, comandante della 36ª divisione americana "Texas", rivolse un messaggio ai propri uomini. Ecco il testo originale in inglese.

HEADQUARTERS 36th INFANTRY DIVISION
 

16 June 1944

MEN Of THE 36TH INFANTRY (TEXAS) DIVISION

It is with great pride that I congratulate you on your magnificent achievements in battle to date.

Nine months ago you landed on the hostile beaches of PAESTUM, the vanguard of your country's Amy, to crash the gates of Hitler' a European Fortress. In that, your first action of the war, fighting courageoualy against well-trained enemy forces of long combat experience, you established the first American beachhead on the European Continent, the first to be established anywhere by Americana against German opposition.

For this achievement alone, you have a right to feel justly proud.

Later on, while subject to hardships that have never boon exceeded by arty troops anywhere, you drove the enemy from his well-organized, stoutly defended positions in the hill masses of CAMINO and SUMMUCRO: from MT. MAGGIORE, MT. LUNGO, MT. ROTUNDO and SAN PIETRO. You punished him severely. Hie losses in men and materiel were great. Throughout this period of bitter winter weather, under the moat adverse conditions of climate and terrain, you maintained a cheerfulness and enthusiasm far superior to that of your enemy.

Then came your gallant effort on the RAPIDO. Let us bow our heads in reverence to the fallen comrades who crossed that bitterly contested stream and put up a great, if losing, fight-as great from the standpoint of sheer gallantry and determination as any recorded in the annals of our Armed Forces.

At CASSINO and CASTELLONE RIDGE you were severely tested. You suffered losses, but you captured vital high ground from the strongly entrenched enemy, and held it throughout a month of hard fighting.

After a well-deserved rest you were ordered to attack again—at a critical. time and at a critical place near VELLETRI, to break the stronghold of the enemy defenses east of ROME. History will record forever your outstanding success. In a week of brilliant maneuvers and relentless assaults on one position after another, VELLETRI, ROCCA DI PAPA, MARINO and beyond, you killed and captured well over three thousand of the enemy; routed him from his strong, well-organized positions and drove him across the TIBER in disorder.

Your brilliant performance on that famous battlefield was a major contribution in the capture of the first European capital to be recovered from Nazi occupation. For your magnificent accomplishment here, General Marshall sent a personal massage of congratulation to you and to me. The German Army is still reeling from your blows. The relentless pressure of your attacks will substantially shorten the duration of the war. Your victorious march through the streets of the cities of your enemy cannot be long delayed.

FRED. WALKER
Major General, U. S. Army
Commanding

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